Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-03-03

times obliged to turn their horses to the bias,
to keep from being blown over the Ridge
At the end Of half an hour the ostler dis
mounted, and, reckoning to the others. took
his horse by the bride and began the descent.
When it came to Hale's turn TO dismount be
could not help at first recoiling from the pros
pect before him. The trail--if it could be Sc
called-was merely the track or furrow OF
some fallen tree, dragged, by accident or de.
sign, diagonally across the sides Of the noun.
tain. AT times it appeared scarcely foot in
width; at other times mere crumblinp
gully, or narrow shelf made by the projec.
tons OF dead boughs and collected debris. II
seemed perilous for foot passenger; it ap-
peared impossible for horse. Nevertheless,
he had taken step forward when Clinch
laid his hand on his arm.
you'll bring up the rear he said, not un-
kindly, "ez you're stranger here. Wait un.
til we sing out to you.n
"But il prefer to take the same risks as
you allr said Hale, stifiy.
"You kim" said Clinch, grimly. GBut |
reckoned, as you weren't familiar with this
sort O. thing, you wouldn't keer, by any
foolishness o. yours. to stampede the rocks
ahead Of US, and break down tho trail, or
send down an avalanche on top of us But
just ez you like"
Il will wait, then, said Hale, hastily.
The rebuke, however, did him good SER
vice. II preoccupied his mind, SO that il re-
manned unaffected by the dizzy depths, and
enabled him to abandon himself mechanic
ally to the sagacity OF his horse, who was
contented simply to follow the footprints Of
the preceding animal, and in few moments
they reached the broader trail below without
mishap A discussion regarding their f,i-
ture movements was already taking place The
mpossibihty of regaining the station at the
Summit was admitted; the way down the
mountain to the next settlement was still left
TO them, or the adjacent woods, II they
wished for an encampmcn.. The ostler once
more assumed authority
"'Skuse me, gentlemen, but them horses
don't take no pasecer down the mountain to-
night. The stage road amt mile Off, and
kallSilate to wait here till the up stage comes.
She's bound to stop ON account of the snow;
and I've done my dooty when hand the
horses over to the driver"
But il she hears Of the block UP yer, and
waits at the lower stationg" said Rawlins.
"Then I've done my dooty all the same.
Skuse me, gentlemen, but them ez hez their
own horses kin do ez they like"
As this clearly pointed to Hale, he briefly
assured his companions that he had no inten-
ton of deserving them. "If cannot reach
Eagles Court Ishall at least keep as near it
as possible. suppose any messenger from
my house to tho Summit will learn where
am and why am delayedg"
Messenger from your housed" gasped Raw
Inns. "Are you crazy, stranger? Only bird
would get outer Eagles now; and it would
hev to be an eagle ct that Between your
house and the Summit the snow must be tn
feet by this time, to say nothing Of the drift
IN the pass"
Hale felt it was the truth. At any other
time he would have worried over this unex-
pected situation, and in utter violation of all
his traditions. He was past that now and
even felt certain relief. He knew his fam
lily were safe; it was enough. That they
wcrO locked up securely. and incapable of in
terfering with him, seemed to enhance his
new, half conscious, half shy enjoyment Of
an adventurous existence.
The ostler, who had been apparently lost
in contemplation of the steep trail he had
just descended, suddenly clapped his hand to
his leg with an ejaculation of gratifled aston
ishment
"Waal, darn my skin eff that amt Hennick-
er's slide all the timei heard it was some
what about here"
Rawlins briefly explained to Hale that
slide was a rude incline for the transit Of
heavy goods that could not be carried down
a trail
"And Hennickers," continued the man,
saint more nor a mile away. We might try
Hennicker's at push, chs"
By common instinct the whole party
looked obviously at Hale. "Who's Hen
nicker" he felt compelled to ask.
The ostler hesitated and glanced at the
others to reply. "There are folks" he said
lasily at last, 'ez believes that Hennicker
amt much better nor the crowd we're hunt
ing; but they don't say it to Hennicker. We
needn't let on what we're AFTER
II for ene," said Hale stoutly, decidedly
object to any concealment of our purpose"
at don't follow" said Rawlins carelessly,
"that Hennicker even knows Of this yer
robbery. It's his gineral gait VIC refer TO-
Eff yer think it more polite, and it makes IL
moro sociable to discuss this matter afore
him, I'm agreed"
"Hale MEANS" said Clinch, that it
wouldn't be on the square to take and make
use of any points we might pick up there
agin the road agents"
Certainly" said Hale. 1t was not at all
what he had meant, but he felt singularly
relieved at the compromise.
"And ez reckon Hennicker amt such
fool as not to know who we are and what
we're out for" continued Clinch, II reckon
there amt any concealment."
"Then it's Hennicker'sf" said tho ostler,
with swift deduction.
"Hennicker it is! Lead on"
The oStler remounted his horse and tho
others followed. The trail presently turned
into broader track, that bore some signs Of
approaching habitations, and at the end Of
Ave minutes they came upon clearing. 1t
was part of one of the fragmentary mountain
terraces, and formed by itself vast niche,
or bracketed shelf. In the hollow flank of the
mountain that, to Hale's first glance, bore q
rude resemblance to Eagles Court. But
there was neither meadow nor open field; the
few acres of ground had been wrested from
the forest by az and fire, and unsightly
stumps everywhere marked the rude and diff
ficult attempts at cultivation. Two or three
rough buildings of unplaned and implanted
boards, connected by rambling sheds, stood
in the center Of the ampitheatre. Far from
being protected by the encircling rampant, it
seemed to be the selected arena for the COM
batting elements A whrlwind from the
outer abyss continually filed this cave of
Eolus with driving snow, which, however,
melted as it fell, or was quickly whirled
axvav oeroi,